Calculating　disc　cutter　wear　and　predicting　wear　life　are　long-standing　issues　affecting　the　efficiency　and　cost　of　tunnel　boring　machines　(TBMs).　During　the　TBM　excavation　process,　the　wear　of　the　disc　cutter　is　a　comprehensive　outcome　of　the　interaction　between　the　tool　and　rock.　Studying　the　mechanisms　of　tool　rock　breaking　and　wear　can　assist　in　developing　a　more　precise　model　for　predicting　cutter　wear.　Therefore,　based　on　the　rock-　breaking　and　wear　mechanisms　of　a　cutter,　this　study　developed　a　model　for　predicting　the　cutter　wear　rate　and　life.　The　model　is　based　on　the　theory　of　dense　core-cavity　expansion　combined　with　the　motion　state　of　a　cutter.　First,　the　TBM　excavation　process　and　rock-breaking　mechanism　of　a　cutter　were　analyzed　in　detail.　A　cutting　force　model　under　the　compression　shear　failure　mode　based　on　the　dense　core-cavity　expansion　theory　was　established.　Based　on　the　force　model,　a　prediction　model　for　the　wear　rate　and　life　of　the　disc　cutter　was　established,　considering　the　working　characteristics　and　wear　mechanism.　Furthermore,　the　impact　of　penetration　on　the　prediction　model　was　investigated.　In　addition,　to　demonstrate　the　practicality　of　the　method,　this　study　conducted　a　comprehensive　examination　using　engineering　examples.　The　results　showed　that　the　average　difference　in　the　cutter　average　wear　rate　using　the　developed　model　was　less　than　3%　compared　with　the　actual　engineering　result.　In　addition,　the　average　difference　in　the　wear　life　rate　was　less　than　5%.　Finally,　the　developed　prediction　method　was　compared　with　other　models.　The　wear　rate　fitting　accuracy　was　improved　by　4.91-10.85%　and　the　wear　life　fitting　accuracy　was　improved　by　5.11-12.19%　by　the　developed　method.　This　improvement　confirms　the　reasonableness　and　reliability　of　the　method.　This　method　can　estimate　the　wear　rate　and　lifespan　of　a　cutter　more　accurately　and　reliably　than　other　methods,　providing　a　practical　tool　to　TBM　engineers　to　make　informed　decisions　and　optimize　tool　replacement　programs.